And then, to the profound amazement of all three, seated in the canoe there seemed to be an old man, with white hair and long, white beard. The soft, white light seemed to come from every part of his person, as it came from the canoe.
Frank Merriwell paused, with the rifle partly lifted.
"It's th' spook himsilf!" gasped Barney, covering his face with his hands, and clinging to the professor.
"That's right!" faintly said Scotch. "For mercy's sake, don't shoot, Frank! We're lost if you do!"
Frank was startled and astonished, but he was determined not to lose his nerve, no matter what happened.
The man in the canoe seemed to be looking directly toward the cabin. He slowly lifted one hand, and pointed away across the Everglades, at the same time motioning with the other hand, as if for them to go in that direction.
"I'll just send a bullet over his head, to see what he thinks of it," said Frank, softly, lifting the rifle.
Then another startling thing happened.
Canoe and man disappeared in the twinkling of an eye!
The trio in the hut gasped and rubbed their eyes.